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This morning I was laid off from my job of five years. I saw it coming and honestly lasted longer in the lay-off process than I thought I would (I had to lay off the two employees who worked under me three weeks ago).

I don't know the first thing about unemployment or other benefits I might be eligible for. I've never been fired from a job or been laid off before- I've always left on my own after being offered a better position elsewhere.

Does anyone have any tips about unemployment or other benefits that someone new to the system might not know?

There is HUGE Difference between getting fired and laid off.. In most cases getting fired is because something u did wrong but if u got laid off it wasnt your fault. The easiest way to file is to go to your states website and file electronically saves ALOT of time waiting on hold to crappy music or my case listening to those stupid Pure Michigan ads. =) Most improtantly dont panic. Just file and then make sure in a couple weeks you register or call in to make sure you get paid your unemployment benefits. It might help to check out unemployment forum on here or at least tell us what state your from and somebody can give you specifics. Good luck and hang in there...

No need to call, visit the unemployment website for your state, just Google ("your state" unemployment)

Enter your social # and company and reason for being unemployed which will be laid-off then the unemployment office will send you this debit card where your money will be placed on until you set up direct deposit to your bank account.

then every two weeks you have to log-on the unemployment website & answer like 5 questions
1. have you looked for work
2. are you currently working
3. have you received income last two weeks

I forget what the last two are but you answer then correctly and you'll receive unemployment benefits, which is usually like 60% of your income when you worked full time.

Its actually easier to file for unemployment than it is to fill out a job application, but hey that's why business pay payroll taxes so they cant just be laying people off then collecting your paycheck to pay off their bad debts!

Also check with the food stamp office to see when you can get food stamps. They may call it "SNAP" now?

So far as food goes, many churches and local groups will give you food boxes right away. Ask at the food stamp office about that.

You may be able to get help with your heating/electric bill. Ask where you get food stamps or food boxes. Some of these places have lists of different places you can get help for this or that.

If you are like most Americans and don't have much savings to live on, don't spend any money on food. You can get all the food you need.

Also if low on funds, cancel everything you don't need. Like TV. If you can use the internet at a library maybe that can be canceled as well. A basic landline phone and answering machine can be much less expensive than a cell phone with all the bells and whistles. Etc.

This forum has a Frugal area in the Business section. Lots of money saving tips there. Also search google.com for frugal tips.

ALWAYS keep this whole experience in the back of your mind. NEVER show any company loyalty, NEVER give more effort then is required and ALWAYS be looking for something better.

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